Sawmill log turner



Feb. 19, 1952 oss 2,586,483

SAWMILL LOG TURNER F'iled Feb. 16, 1951 2 SHEETS SHEET l INVENTOR. GUY R0 55,

ITTORME),

Feb. 19, 1952 Filed Feb. 16, 1951 G. E. ROSS SAWMILL LOG TURNER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. 60X 5.. Ross ATTORNEX Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAWMILL LOG TURNER Guy E. Ross, North Branch, Mich. Application February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,299

6 Claims. (Cl. 143101) This invention relates to saw mills and more particularly to a log turning device for use in conjunction with a saw mill.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic positive acting log turning device for effecting incremental rotary movements of a log within a saw mill and which is substantially simplified and inexpensive to manufacture.

This and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present saw mill log turner.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational section of said log turner taken through the central portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof partially broken away.

F1Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary section on line 4--4 of Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

iFig. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6-6 of F g. 2.

It will be understood that the above drawin s illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims here after set out.

Referring to Fig. 1 the supporting platform H is bounded by the upright side wall members l3 and the interconnecting front and rear wall members l2. Parallel spaced supporting beams [4 are positioned over the platform II and are interposed between front and rear walls 12.

Angle irons [5 are arranged in spaced relation upon supporting beams l4 and are secured thereto by the bolts [6. There are also provided another pair of spaced angle irons l1 secured upon the beams M as by the bolts I8.

Parallel spaced upright retaining guide plates l9 are positioned directly above the upright flange of angle irons I! and are supported and secured in position by upright braces 20 which are secured to said angle iron by the bolts 2|. Additional braces 22 and 24 anchored at points 23 and 25 respectively are also secured at their upper ends as by welding to the retaining guide plates 19 whereby said plates are rigidly supported as shown in the drawing.

A pair of spaced upright oppositely faced channel elements 26 are positioned between guide plates I9 and slidably bear thereagainst and the lower ends of said channel elements are pivotally mounted upon the bolts 2| as illustrated in Fig. 6 as well as Fig. 1.

Angularly inclined tie rods 28 are pivotally joined at their upper ends at points 29 within the bifurcated brackets 21 at the upper ends of channel elements 26. The lower ends of tie rods 28 slidably extend through openings in the flanges 30 of the bracket elements 3! secured to the outer surfaces of angle irons [5. Suitable transverse pins 32 are secured within openings in the lower ends of tie rods 28 and are adapted to bear against the under surface of the flanges 30 to prevent clockwise movement of the channel elements 26 from the position shown in Fig. 1.

However coiled springs 33 are loosely positioned around rods 28 with their lower ends bearing against flanges 39 and with their upper ends respectively engaging the adjustable nuts or stops 34 which are threaded upon rods 28. By this construction it is apparent that the channel elements 26 can move in a counterclockwise direction being cushioned by springs 33, and the tension in said springs may be adjusted by the nuts 34.

Arcuate inwardly facing guide channels 35 are secured upon the interior surfaces of channel elements 26 with their upper ends extending forwardly as shown in Fig. 2. Rollers 36 are journaled at 31 upon opposite sides of the substantially upright turner arm 38 which is of U-shape in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 5. Said rollers are guidably positioned within the channels 35 and define the path of movement of the log turner arm 38 when the same is projected upwardly or downwardly in a manner hereafter described.

The operating lever 40 of tubular construction, for illustration, is pivotally joined at one endto the turner arm 38 at its lower end by the pin or bolt 39. The opposite end of operating lever 49 is positioned between angle irons l5 and is pivotally joined thereto and supported therebetween by the bolt 4 I.

A plurality of log engaging pointed teeth 42 are arranged preferably in vertical alignment and pivotally mounted within the upper end of turner arm 38 upon the transverse pins or bolts 44 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The pointed ends 43 of said teeth are adapted to be projected into t*e outer surface portions of the log 41 for effecting incremental clockwise turning movements of the same upon its supports 48 and with respect to the guide or retaining member 49.

As shown in Fig. 2 the inner ends of the teeth 42 are formed in a wedge shape as at point 45 and are rearwardly cut away as at 46 whereby said teeth may not pivot downwardly below the substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 2, but on the downward return movement of the turner arm 38 may pivot upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction about their supports 44.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 there is preferably provided a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 50 which is anchored as at 5| to the platform I I and which includes a reciprocal piston having a piston rod 52 which projects from said cylinder and whose upper end is secured to a central portion of the operating lever 40 as by the clamp 53.

Flexible conduit 54 is adapted to supply pressure fluid, either liquid or compressed air, to the upper end of the cylinder 50 to cause a retracting downward movement of the piston rod 52. And

similarly there is provided a flexible conduit 55 in communication with the lower end of said cylinder for causing upward movement of the piston rod 52 and an upward pivotal movement of the operating lever 40 about its pivotal support 41 In operation it is apparent that this upward movement of the lever 40 will effect a corresponding upward movement of the turner arm 38 with its rollers 36 guided within the channels 35 within channel elements 26. The teeth 42 when in their lowermost position will drop to a substantially horizontal position by gravity, and upon upward movement thereof their pointed ends 43 will pierce or grip the surface of the log 4'! arranged transversely thereof.

Continued upward movement of the turner arm 38 along the path defined by channels 35 will cause said teeth to effect a turning movement of log 4'! upon its supports 48 with the member 49 preventing said g from leaving said .supports. To effect a return movement of the turner arm pressure fluid is selectively delivered by a suitable valve, not shown through the conduit 54 to cause piston rod 52 to descend within cylinder 50 thus retracting the turner arm 38 and its operating lever 40.

The purpose of the plates I9 is to act as a lateral. support for channel members 26, and it appears that said channel elements bear against plates 19 as said channel elements pivot about their supports 2| as above described.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof:

I claim:

1. A saw mill log turner comprising a platform, a pair of spaced upright oppositely faced channel elements pivotally joined at their lower ends to one end of said platform, tie rods pivotally joined at their upper ends to the upper ends of said channel elements and slidably joined at their lower ends to and towards the other end of said platform, an upri ht slightly inclined upwardly movable reciprocal turner arm guidably positioned and retained between said channel elements, an operating lever pivotally mounted at one end upon said platform and pivotally joined at its other end to the lower end of said turner arm, a plurality of spaced vertically aligned turner teeth pivotally joined to said turner arm and projecting outwardly therefrom for operative upward turning engagement with a log supported transversely thereof, and a hydraulic motor anchored to said platform and having its reciprocal element secured at its outer end to said operating lever intermediate its ends.

2. A saw mill log turner as set out in claim 1 and spaced upright retaining guide and side thrust restricting plates secured to said platform and positioned against the outer surfaces of said channel elements intermediate their ends.

3. A saw mill log turner comprising a platform,

a pair of spaced upright oppositely faced channel 7 elements pivotally joined at their lower ends to said platform, tie rods pivotally joined at their upper ends to the upper ends of said channel elements and slidably joined at their lower ends to said platform at a distance from said channel elements, an u right slightly inclined upwardly movable reciprocal turner. arm guidably positioned and retained between said channel elements, an operating lever pivotally mounted at one end upon said platform and pivotally joined at its other end to the lower end of said turner arm, a plurality of spaced vertically aligned turner teeth pivotally joined to said turner arm and projecting outwardly therefrom for operative upward'turning engagement with a log supported transversely thereof, a hydraulic motor anchored to said platform and having its reciprocal element secured at" its outer end to saidopcrating lever intermediate its ends, transverse pins on 'said-itie rods engageable with said platform to prevent pivotal movement of said channel elements in one direction, and coiled springs on said tie rods joined thereto at their one ends and with their other ends bearing aga'inst'said platform to perinit'c'ushioned pivotal movements of said channel elements in the opposite direction.

4. A saw mill log turner as set outinclaim 1, and rollers journaled upon opposite sides of said turner arm intermediate its ends and cooperatively engaging said channel elements.

5. A saw mill log turner comprising a platform, a pair of spaced upright oppositely faced channel elements pivotally joined at their lower ends to said platform, tie rods pivotally joined at their upper ends to the upper ends of said channel elements and slidably joined at their lower ends to and toward the other end of saidplatform, an upright slightly inclined upwardly movable re. ciprocal turner arm guidably positioned and retained between said channel elements, an operating lever pivotally mounted at one end upon said platform and pivotally joined at its other end to the lower end of said turner arm, a plurality of spaced vertically aligned turner teeth pivotally joined to said turner arm and projecting outwardly therefrom for operative upwardturning engagement with a log supported transversely thereof, a hydraulic motor anchored to said platform and having its reciprocal element secured at its outer end to said operating lever intermediate its ends, arouate guide channels upon the inner surfaces of said channel elements and rollers journaled upon opposite sides of said turner arm intermediate its ends and cooperatively engagin said guide channels.

, 6. A saw mill log turner as set out in claim 5, said guide channels curving rearwardly at their lower ends to effect an upward and transversely forward movement to said turner arm upon upward movement thereof.

GUY E. ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

